SOUL ALIVE - Creative | Intuitive | Visionary

I love the forthrightness of this quote from the great Irish playwright who is also described as being a polemicist (I wouldn’t mind being one of those when I grow up).

I totally subscribe to his point of view. I believe each one of us is here to make a very special contribution to the whole that only we, with our unique personality, set of predilections and skills, can do. Finding that something - or combinations of somethings - that fires us up and gets us out of bed in the morning after a night of not-enough-sleep, is a life’s journey.

While it’s the easier and safer option to indulge in hedonistic pleasures in our time off, these alone will not deliver the deeper fulfilment and purpose to our lives we secretly crave. We need to balance hedonism with the quest for eudemonism - both Greek like Feta.

“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognised by yourself as a mighty one.”

George Bernard Shaw's point about “being recognised by yourself” holds the key here and not what others might think about your title or position. You could be the CEO of a company with all its attendant trappings and still not recognise yourself for who you truly are at heart.

I remember once facilitating a group of CEO’s to make their Vision Boards. We’d got to that moment in the proceedings when I was cruising around the room to view the near-complete visions. I approached one man; middle-aged and overweight, the successful owner of a large software company.

To my surprise he had placed a Tango-dancing couple in ‘close embrace’ right in the centre of his board. I looked up at him as I blurted out the obvious: “They’re dancing Tango!” And then I saw the man’s eyes were filled with tears as he mouthed back: “Yep, that used to be me once. I was a very good Tango dancer and teacher and I’m a million miles removed from both now and it’s hurting; I must do something about it.”

Compare this scenario with the office cleaner who has mopped up for the same company for the past 30 years. She works her hours around home and family. She takes pride in her job, creating a sparkling environment to welcome staff to work the following day. She travels to and from the office out of rush-hour and has no issues with parking. She's her own boss and left alone to ruminate or listen to the radio uninterrupted as she labours. Another true story, by the way.

I ask you, which of the two is more fulfilled? Who has found a ‘mighty purpose’ by their own definition? Then ask yourself sincerely:

You owe it to yourself to feel deep within your heart that your presence is worthwhile and your purpose on the earth is a mighty one. Life is all too short. And for the sweet privilege of being alive, I invite you to take whatever steps you need to take in the direction of ‘being a force of Nature’ and find the courage to let yourself blossom.

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